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Eight seconds from the end of the game, the Browns offense came together to call the third game of their incredible last chance at the Superdome. Gains of 25 and 16 yards (against a Saints D too weak in his eight-man coverage) had put the offense on the 34-yard New Orleans line. It happened so fast, and so easily, that the Browns had an intrusion into the Saints' territory – as if they had found an unlocked door right in the middle of the field. Head coach Hue Jackson has therefore rushed out of his field goal unit before anyone can appear and expel them.
Zane Gonzalez, a second-year kicker who had previously missed two extra points, attempted a 44-yard run and, of course, a 43-yard stuck in the final seconds of OT against. the Steelers last week. Almost certainly, some Browns offensive players wondered why they were not there to use the eight seconds for another quick throw on the touchline, hoping to make the pitch easier to handle. Of course, Gonzalez pushed the long right kick, and the Browns are still looking for their first win on the road since Oct. 11, 2015 (in Baltimore).
Jackson was not asked about his decision afterwards. Even though he was, he would not have said publicly – even if his actions showed it – but Jackson might not have trusted his quarterback to throw a shot lateral fast. Yes, it was Taylor's incredible 47-yard throw against Antonio Callaway who even put the Browns in a position to win late. (Taylor throws one of the most beautiful deep balls in the NFL). But it was Taylor's interception against Marcus Williams that put the Saints ahead.
Taylor has a well-deserved reputation for handling the ball, but this interception is a perfect example of why the Browns can not finally succeed with him under center. At the start of the descent, Kurt Coleman's safety stormed the pitch. Taylor, who tends to break quickly in the pocket and become a runner, calmly avoids the pressure and prepares to throw. In the void, it was a perfect pocket move from a historically unnatural pocket engine. The problem was that in the process, Taylor was staring at David Njoku.
And that's where the difference lies between a natural and unnatural pocket QB. Marcus Williams, playing textbook safety, read Taylor's eyes and easily jumped the jet. When an unnatural pocket QB feels pressure, he first thinks to escape the pressure and then thinks of throwing. He is a smuggler who, escaping the pressure, quickly becomes a runner, then becomes a smuggler. A natural pocket QB streamlines this process. He thinks all at once to escape the pressure and discard. He remains a smuggler all the time, so he does not look at his target blatantly when he moves, just as he would not blatantly look at his target when he did not move.
A year ago, the Browns were struggling with a bad receiver, and Jackson did not believe that these men could handle many different formations, pre-amassed movements and very sophisticated pieces. Thus, the Browns lined themselves up in scattered formations and took routes of isolation. Their receivers were not good enough to win alone in space, and rookie QB DeShone Kizer, forced to make simplistic readings allowing complex defensive aspects, launched 22 interceptions.
To address this problem, Cleveland has spent $ 47 million guaranteed and a pair of pick-and-choose choices to acquire recipient Jarvis Landry, which could be a weapon from any location on the receiver. The hope was that the arrival of Landry, combined with the development of the David Njoku fin and receivers Josh Gordon and Rashard Higgins, could give the Browns a wider pass plan. This has been the case, even if Gordon's experience ends this weekend. In weeks 1 and 2 we saw a much more creative Browns pass game.
The problem is that a game of highly disputed passes requires expectations from the quarterback. The idea is that you have various formations that force the defense into predictable covers. From there, you run combinations of routes that exploit these aspects. The timing can be very sensitive, which is why a QB must anticipate the opening of these routes before they do it completely. And since clean dropbacks are rare in professional football, a QB must also be able to visualize these routes while moving in the pocket.
Taylor is not only an unnatural pocket mover, but he is also a smuggler. He will not release a ball unless he confirms that his target is open. But at this point, this target may no longer be open. Taylor, to his credit, is a responsible decision maker and he trusts his dynamic legs. Thus, when his targets once open do not stay open, he usually runs, which is better than exploring the ball. However, we are talking about missed opportunities and an offense that is poorly executed. A mobile QB, like Taylor, is better suited to the type of isolated formations that the Browns exploited last year. (Or that the bills, not by chance, often ran when Taylor was their QB).
No one knows more than Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley of Baker Mayfield's current readiness. But it's interesting to note that around the draft, the Browns, among other teams, talked about IQ and Mayfield's football leadership. If this momentum were valid, you would think Mayfield could attack Jackson and Haley as soon as possible.
Unlike last year, there is a fault of quality to run in Cleveland, and the Browns have a defense that has allowed the Steelers and Saints to perform very well. This team is not as bad as the current collapse suggests. Looking to their QB of the future may soon prove it.
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